A strong record in matches against Malta: 9 matches and 9 victories, 5 of which away and 4 at home, the same split between European and World Cup qualification matches. The 9 matches between Italy and Malta have come between 1986 and 2023. Italy haven’t conceded a goal in the last 5 matches (the last in 1993); the top scorer in this meeting is Altobelli with 3 goals, followed by Mancini and Vialli (2). Two players have scored on the National Team debut against Malta: R. Ferri on 6 December 1986 and Pellè on 13 October 2014. 

On the Malta bench, following in Ghedin and Mangia’s footsteps, there’s another Italian coach, Michele Marcolini, who during his playing career played in Serie A and B (Bari, Vicenza, Atalanta, Chievo and Padova). This will be the 20th meeting with a national team headed by an Italian coach, after Varrella and Leoni (San Marino), Panucci, De Biasi (Albania, twice), Zaccheroni (Japan), Ghedin (Malta, 4 times), Foni (Switzerland), Trapattoni (Ireland, 4 times) and recently, M. Rossi (Hungary, twice). 

The National Team return to Bari after over 7 years: the last time coming in September 2016 in Ventura’s first match as manager and the 1-3 loss to France, a game also remembered for the first official VAR test in Italy. That was the only defeat suffered at San Nicola, which until that point had seen Italy manage 9 victories and 1 draw in the previous 10 games played there. 

Other than the 7 friendlies and 3 European qualifiers, Bari also hosted the Azzurri at the 1990 World Cup: the 3rd place playoff against England won 2-1, earning Italy a spot on the podium with Schillaci scoring the goal to confirm him the golden boot for the tournament.